Soy is a great source of plant-based protein, and it can even help lower your risk of heart disease and lower your cholesterol. Plus, soy is rich in isoflavones, which can help to improve menopause symptoms. Long story short, soy is an essential nutrient, and that’s why we’ve put together this collection of recipes that highlight some delicious, soy-rich ingredients like edamame, tofu, tempeh and soy milk. If you’re trying to incorporate more soy into your day, tasty recipes like our Roasted Broccoli & Kimchi Rice Bowl and our Gut-Friendly Snack Mix are a great place to start.
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Roasted Broccoli & Kimchi Rice Bowl
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Christina Brockman
This well-rounded kimchi rice bowl is packed with fiber and probiotic foods like kimchi and yogurt to support a healthy gut. Prebiotic foods like edamame and garlic add flavor and additional gut-healthy benefits. Gochugaru is a Korean chile powder with a smoky-sweet flavor and mild heat. You can use a combination of crushed red pepper and paprika in its place.
Gut-Healthy Miso Cup Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This soup is packed with gut-healthy ingredients like miso, a fermented paste that may improve digestion as well as reducing gas and bloating. The base of the soup is prepared in advance and stored in separate containers. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply add the broth and heat it in the microwave. If you don’t wish to travel with vegetable broth or don’t have access to a microwave, you can use reduced-sodium bouillon instead and just add hot water. Cover and let the soup stand for 10 minutes before serving.
High-Protein Enchilada Skillet
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This black bean and tofu enchilada skillet is a one-pan meal packed with plant-based protein. Crumbled tofu soaks up the sauce, while corn tortillas soften into it for a rich, satisfying filling. Black beans provide protein and fiber, and a sprinkle of cheese on top adds melty goodness to every bite. Quick and nutritious, this skillet meal is perfect for your next weeknight dinner.
Crispy Tempeh Steaks with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
This plant-based twist on Marry Me Chicken uses tempeh instead of chicken, providing a gut-friendly fiber boost. Choose “original” tempeh to make sure your “steaks” are free from added flavorings.
Bibimbap-Inspired Veggie Bowls
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
From dark green spinach to shredded red cabbage, these plant-based bibimbap bowls offer plenty of powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. This delicious combo delivers plenty of vegetables and a wonderful balance of textures and flavors. They’re topped with a perfectly cooked fried egg and a tangy mayonnaise-based drizzle that adds richness and a satisfying creamy element to the dish.
The Ultimate Gut-Friendly Snack Mix
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Christina Brockman
This curried cashew snack mix features toasted edamame—a prebiotic food that sets the stage for a healthy gut. A combination of spices and red curry paste brings flavor and heat to this grab-and-go snack. To keep the spice level on the mild side, you can swap out the red curry paste for yellow.
Crispy Rice Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This crispy rice salad with cucumber and edamame strikes the perfect balance of crispy, fresh and savory, ideal for a light lunch or side dish. The rice is tossed with curry paste and baked until crispy, adding a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the freshness of smashed cucumbers. The smashed cucumbers release their juices, which blend with the dressing to create a refreshing, tangy base. Small Persian cucumbers have a thin skin and very few seeds, making them ideal for smashing.
High-Protein Orange-Mango Smoothie
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This high-protein orange-mango smoothie is a bright and refreshing drink that combines the tangy sweetness of fresh orange juice with the tropical richness of mangoes. A scoop of protein powder and Greek-style yogurt make this smoothie a satisfying breakfast. Using unflavored protein powder allows the natural fruit flavors to shine.
Gochujang-Glazed Tempeh & Brown Rice Bowls
If you’re a tempeh skeptic, you’ve probably never had the firm soy-based slabs slathered with a sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce. We give this easy BBQ tempeh combo a punch of umami with tamari and add a little heat courtesy of gochujang. It’s easy to put your own spin on this recipe; see Variations (below) for some riffs.
Cabbage, Tofu & Edamame Salad
Craving crunch? Bite into a salad loaded with crisp red cabbage, edamame, bamboo shoots and chow mein noodles. This salad is slightly sweetened with baked tofu, mandarin oranges and sesame vinaigrette.
High-Protein Apple & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood.
These apple–peanut butter overnight oats make a satisfying breakfast that you can prep and enjoy throughout the week. Creamy peanut butter and Greek-style yogurt add plenty of protein, while chopped apples bring natural sweetness and crunch. Rolled oats soak up all the flavors overnight for a perfectly creamy texture by morning.
Sticky Orange Tofu Bites
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
These sticky orange tofu bites are the perfect balance between sweet and savory, thanks to the flavorful orange glaze made from fresh orange juice and zest. Cooking the tofu with a bit of cornstarch on the outside helps the glaze cling to the pieces. Serve these tasty bites on a plate with wooden picks for guests to enjoy, or serve them over brown rice for a hearty main dish.
Banana-Cocoa Soy Smoothie
With plenty of protein from both tofu and soymilk, this banana-split-inspired breakfast smoothie will keep you satisfied until lunchtime.
Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing
Prep four days’ worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can’t find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.
